This has more to do with the virulence of the strain of E. Coli. The are
many strains, and some have the ability to secrete enterotoxins into the
gut of the affected individual, thus resulting in a gastroenteritis.
F Garbrecht
Medical College of Wisconsin
fgarbrec at post.its.mcw.edu
On 28 Jan 1993 apland at mala.bc.ca wrote:
> Date: 28 Jan 93 04:39:29 GMT
> From:apland at mala.bc.ca> To: bioforum at net.bio.net> Subject: E. Coli and sickness
>> Hi. I'm a grade 12 biology student. I am wondering about the effects of E.
> Coli bacteria injested through uncooked meat. Recently a young child died and
> tens of others have became ill in Washington State after eating uncooked
> hamburgers. The news attributed the illness to E. Coli, but my biology text
> says that E.Coli is a harmless bacteria found in the colon. Does this have
> something to do with the high pH in the colon as apposed to the low pH in the
> stomach?
>> Thanks, Shannon
>
